Drape supporting device



IR. R. DE MENT DRA'PE SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed June 11, 1941 BYV l ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 1, 1942 UNITED STATES parent OFFICE DRAPE SUPPORTING DEVICE Robert R. De Ment, Cleveland Heights, Ohio Application June 11, 1941, Serial No. 397,558

4 Claims.

wardly extending ends provided with the auxiliary members II which are pivotally connected thereto about axes II that are parallel to the pivotal axes 2 and 3. The members II are adaptfoldable form of structure which is comparatively simple and which can be extended to operative position and reduced to compact condition in a simplied manner.

Other Objects will appear from the following description and claims when considered together with the accompanying drawing.

Fig. l is a front elevation of my improved device in extended position, with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the container and the means for mounting the uprights therein; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail View of the removable form of connection between the uprights and the drape-supporting bar.

It is to be understood that the present form of disclosure is merely for the purpose of illustratiton and that there might be devised various modifications thereof without departing from the spirit of the invention as herein set forth and claimed.

In the present form of construction, as i1lustrated in the accompanying drawing, there are the companion longitudinally extensible uprights which are pivotally mounted within the container or case I at the points 2 and 3. Each of these uprights comprises the extensible telescopic tubular sections 4, 5 and 6 which are adapted to be secured in adjusted position by means of the familiar rotatable rings 'I'. These uprights are pivotally mounted within the channel members 8 and 9 which are secured to the inside of the end Walls of the container, these uprights being adapted to fit snugly within the same when in raised position so as to be braced thereby against forward or rearward movement. As indicated in the drawing, the pivot point 2 of one of the uprights is at a higher elevation than the other, this difference in elevation being sufficient to permit the one upright to be swung down over the other upright, the two uprights then lying in parallel arrangement, as indicated in Fig. l.

The middle part I0 of the drape bar is of substantially inverted U-shape and has its downed to be removably inserted into the upper ends of the tubular telescopic members E, as indicated in Fig. 4.

The auxiliary drape bars I2 and I3 are pivotally mounted upon the depending portions of the middle part I 0. The bars I2 and I3 can be swung horizontally to any desired position and secured in such position by means of the wing screw I4 in each instance. The depending portions of the middle bar I@ are of suflicient extent to permitk one of the auxiliary bars to be elevated so that the two auxiliary bars can be swung into folded position the one above the other, thereby contributing tothe compactness of the device.

At the outer ends of the auxiliary bars I2 and I3 I have providedthe supplemental extensions I5 and I6 which are secured in the desired adjusted position by means of wing nuts, these pivotal connections being about vertical axes I'I.

It is to be understood that the auxiliary bars I2 and I3 and the supplemental extensions I5 and I6 can be set at any desired angle, whether in direct alignment with the middle bar or not.

When the drape supporting device is lowered into inactive position, the arms I2 and I3 and I5 and I6 are folded inwardly upon themselves and the drape is folded about the same in such folded condition. Then the drape and the arms together are removed from the uprights so that the uprights can be telescoped and then folded down into the container or case I, the one above the other. Finally, the folded drape With the drape .bars are placed within the container which can then be closed for convenient transportation or storage.

In setting up the device, the reverse procedure is followed. In this connection, it should be explained that it might be desired to connect the drape-supporting bar to the uprights before the uprights are extended; and this procedure is permitted by virtue of the pivotal connections II' which constitute a means of compensating for any lack of uniformity in the rate of extending the two telescopic uprights. That is, except for this provision, the telescopic uprights would have to be extended at exactly the same rate so as t0 keep the drape bar at all times horizontal in case the drape bar first be attached thereto.

The benet of this same expedient, as just described in setting up the device, may be realized also in taking it down, assuming that it might be desirable to telescope the uprights, at least partly, prior to removing the drape bar therefrom.

It will be observed that while the channel members 8 and 9 serve to brace the uprights against forward and backward movement, when in the raised position, the engagement of the drape bar with the upper ends of the uprights serves as a means of bracing them against collapsing inwardly; and the engagement of the uprights against the backs of the channel members 8 and 9 will also co-operate in holding the uprights in proper elevated position.

Thus I have devised a simple form of structure that is extremely dependable and is capable of being manipulated quite readily and employedv with a high degree of eciency.

What I claim is:

1. A drape supporting device comprising a container of substantial length, a pair of longitudinally extensible uprights having their lower ends pivotally connected within said container and at the ends thereof and near the bottom thereof and about parallel axes transversely of the length of said container, said container being of substantially greater width than said uprights, means within said container for bracing said uprights against forward and rearward movement when in raised position, and a horizontally disposed drape bar having portions pivotally adjustable with respect to the same about axes that are substantially parallel to those of the bottom connections of said uprights, said portions having means of readily removable connection with the upper ends of said uprights, respectively, whereby there will be provided means of compensating for any lack of uniformity in the rate of extension of said uprights upon connecting the drape bar thereto, said parts being so constructed and arranged that the drape may be folded about said bar and placed therewith separately upon the lowered uprights within said container.

2. A drape supporting device comprising a container of substantial length, a pair of longitudinally and telescopically extensible uprights having their lower ends pivotally connected within said container at the ends and near the bottom thereof, and about parallel axes transversely of the length of said container, said container being of substantially greater width than the said upi rights, means within said container for bracing said uprights against forward and backward movement when in raised position, and a horizontally disposed drape bar having depending portions pivotally connected thereto about axes that are substantially parallel to those at the bottom connections of said uprights, said portions being adapted for disconnectible telescopic interengagement with the upper ends of said uprights, respectively, whereby there will be provided means of compensating for any lack of uniformity in the rate of extension of said uprights upon connecting the drape bar thereto, said parts being so constructed and arranged that the drape may be folded about said bar and placed therewith separately upon the lowered uprights within said container.

3. A drape supporting device comprising a base of substantial length, a pair of longitudinally extensible uprights pivotally connected to said base about parallel axes transversely of the length of said base so that they can be swung down thereupon, said pivotal axes being at different elevations so as to permit one upright to be swung down over the other, means for bracing said uprights in raised position,`and a horizontally disposed drape bar having portions pivotally connected thereto about axes transversely of the length thereof, said portions having means of readily removable engagement with the upper ends of said uprights, respectively, whereby there is provided means of compensating for any lack of uniformity in the rate of extension of said uprights upon connecting said drape bar thereto, said parts being so constructed and arranged that the drape may be folded about said bar and placed therewith separately upon the lowered uprights.

4. A drape supporting device comprising a pair of uprights capable of rectilinear longitudinal adjustment, means for bracing said uprights in raised position, and a horizontally disposed drape bar having portions pivotally connected thereto about axes transversely of the length thereof, said portions having means of readily removable engagement with the upper ends of said uprights, respectively, whereby there is provided means of compensating for any lack of uniformity in the rate of extension of said uprights upon connecting the drape bar thereto, said parts being so constructed and Varranged that the drape may be folded about said bar and placed therewith separately upon the uprights for convenient storage or transportation.

ROBERT R.. DE MENT. 

